If you love something, you let it go, right? If they love you in return, they’ll come back.

A year ago, Blue let Noelle walk out the door into another man’s arms and he’s done with waiting for her to come back. She’s his. She’s always been his. She just doesn’t know it yet.

The only thing that stands between them is his past and the woman that almost broke him. Does he love Noelle enough to face his demons and can he trust her to bring their love full circle? Finding out might just kill them both.

Unable to face the look he was sure would be on their faces, Blue stumbled blindly from the room and headed in search of somewhere less confusing.
“Blue!” Noelle had followed him out, but he ignored her. “Blue! Stop!”
“I need to be alone.” Shame made him sharp, but he should have known better than to think that would stop her.
“No, you don’t.” A tiny hand slipped into his, entwining their fingers. “You need to be reminded who you are in the here and now. You need to talk about it. You need to trust me.”
“I…” He didn’t even know who this version of himself was. He stopped in the hallway, uncertain where to go. Nowhere felt like it would be the sanctuary he needed more than anything else.
“Chloe, can you give us an hour and then bring breakfast for two to my room, please.” Noelle took over, seeming to know what he needed better than he did. The sub standing behind the reception desk nodded once, flashing a concerned glance at Blue. He couldn’t believe he was letting anyone see him like this. “Come on.” He followed her up the stairs, meek and trusting. She seemed so certain and he felt so numb, like his brain was full of cotton wool.
They entered her room and she pushed the door shut behind them, hitting the lights and drawing the curtains. Her hands went to the buttons of her blouse and he swallowed. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you something to lose yourself in until you’re able to deal with this.” She shrugged, dragging the blouse from her shoulders and letting it pool on the floor.
“You said you weren’t ready.” He replied automatically and she nodded.
“I did. But you need this.”
“How did you know?” He reached for his own buttons, only then realising that his hands were trembling.
“Know what?” She was shimmying out of her jeans, kicking her shoes across the floor.
“That you’re the only place I feel safe.”
She blushed, the warmth radiating over her creamy skin. “Because you taught me that.” She took over removing his clothes. “Home isn’t always a building. Sometimes it’s a person or people. Sometimes there’s more sanctuary in someone familiar than there is in a house you grew up in. Let me be that for you, Blue.”

Ivory Quinn is an author of indeterminate youth, living in a land where the sun rarely shines but the mist makes everything magical. She likes men and books, but doesn’t think either makes a great sandwich filling. Unmarried and living with other creative types, she has a healthy relationship with her bed. She wishes that writing was her day job, but sadly has a large percentage of non-writing time, made bearable only by classic rock and lots of caffeinated things. Her favourite things are fan mail, cake and men in kilts. She does not see these things as mutually exclusive.